Taking off his ‘mask’ as a member of idol group WINNER, Mino (Song Minho) has thrown his hat into the ring with Mnet’s rap competition “Show Me the Money 4.”

Since showcasing his rapping abilities through the latest episode of “Show Me the Money 4,” Mino quickly become a hot topic in the midst of mixed opinions concerning idol group members auditioning for the show. He has also been drawing much interest from viewers for breaking the stereotype against so-called ‘idol rappers.’

Mino was able to swiftly make it through the first two rounds of the audition, earning recognition and praise from the judges, as well as other contestants, for his impressive solo stage.

Due to these results from rounds one and two, many are expressing their expectations that he could possibly step down the same path that his YG Entertainment labelmate Bobby walked last season, as they name him a viable contender for the crown.

The show’s PD, Lee Sang Yoon, recently touched on the comparisons between Mino and iKON‘s Bobby: “Mino has a completely different kind of charisma and charm compared to Bobby. [Mino] is like an onion; with each layer you take off, he shows a brand new appearance. He is continuing to showcase a new side with every episode, no longer as an idol, but as a rapper.”

However, with increasing positive feedback comes higher expectations. The PD further explained, “All of the writers and producers are looking forward to seeing just how much of his abilities Mino, as a rapper contestant and not a member of WINNER, will be displaying.”

Meanwhile, the third episode of “Show Me the Money 4” is scheduled to air on July 10 at 11 p.m. (KST).